Improvement in clasps



B. GREIG.

Clasps.

No. 216,177. Patented June 3, I879.

W v BM/w Gan/1 N.FETER$. PHUW-LITHOGRAPMER, WASHINGON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENNET GREIG', OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLASPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,177, dated June 3, 1879 application filed April 30, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENNET Game, of the city, county, and State of New York, have in vented a new and useful Improvement in Clasps, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 represents a front view. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in the plane a: as, Fig. 2.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a clasp which is intended to display dry-goods and other articles in show-windows.

My invention consists in the combination, in elasps such as stated, of two jaws stamped or cut out of sheet metal, flexible lugs formed on the edges of the shanks of said jaws, and a spring, the ends of which are firmly retained by said lugs, the shank of one of the jaws being provided at its end with hooks adapted to catch over a cord or wire, while the shank of the other jaw is provided with a spring-clamp adapted to hold a ticket indicating the price or quality of the article to be displayed by the clasp.

In the drawings, the letter A designates my clasp, which consists of two jaws, a a, the edges of which are, by preference, serrated, so that they are adapted to takea firm hold of the article placed between them. Said jaws, together with their shanks b b, are stamped out of sheet metal, and each of said shanks is provided with two flexible lugs or ears, 0 c, which project from its edges, and which can be turned over, so as to catch over and firmly retain the ends of a spring, 0?, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This spring serves to retain the two jaws in the proper relation towardeach other, and its tension is such that it has a tendency to close the jaws, while by pressing the outer ends of the shanks b 1) toward each other the jaws are caused to swing open, the spring forming, so to speak, an imaginary pivot on which they swing.

The shank b of the jaw a is provided at its outer end with two hooks, c, which are adapted to catch over a cord or wire, f, from which the articles to be displayed are suspended, and

on the end of the shank I) of the jaw a is formed a spring-clamp, 0, adapted to retain a ticket, g, Fig. 2, on which is marked the price or the quality, or both, of the article to be dis played.

It will be observed from this description that my clasp is composed of three piecesvia, the two jaws and the spring, the latter servin g to retain the jaws in the proper relation to each other, and to form the fulcrum on which said jaws swing when being opened or closed.

By referring to Fig. 1, it will also be observed that the hooks c are made to spread or diverge from each other, so that they are adapted to retain the clasp in a vertical position when it is suspended from the wire or cord f, even if the article secured in the jaws a a is not evenly balanced.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination, in a clasp, of two jaws provided with flexible ears projecting from the edges of the shanks thereof, and a spring placed between the same, the ends of which are fastened to the shanks of said jaws by means of the flexible ears, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, in a clasp, of two jaws provided with hooks formed on the shank of one of the jaws, and with flexible ears project in g from the edges of the shanks, and a spring arranged between the jaws and held in position by means of the flexible ears, substantially as described.

3. In a clasp, the two jaws provided with hooks formed on the shanks of one of said jaws, with flexible ears projecting from the edges of the shanks, and with a spring-clamp on the end of the other shank, in combination with a spring arranged between the. two jaws and held in position by the flexible ears, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that'I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 211th day of April, 187 9.

BENNET GREIG. [L. s.]' Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

